Tales of the Shireis bringing gamers a new cozy life sim set in the world ofThe Lord of the Rings. Players take on the role of their own Hobbit, which is an intriguing prospect. Unfortunately.Tales of the Shirehas an uphill battle ahead of it. The state ofThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise in gaming has been lackluster lately, and it can potentially lead some to have preconceived notions about the life sim’s quality.
The past few years have been tough for gamers who are alsoThe Lord of the Ringsfans. Right now,the need for a strongLord of the Ringsexperienceis greater than ever, and it’s currently unclear ifTales of the Shirecan make that happen. Yes, the game looks like a fun Hobbit-filled time, but it also raises the important question of whether it will be enough to bring the fantasy franchise out of its gaming slump or not.
Tales of the Shire Has to Make Up for a Series of Unfortunate LotR Game Launches
The Notorious Gollum Game and Return to Moria
Gollumhas gone down in history as a shockingly disappointing game. This spin-off, centered around one of the franchise’s most important characters, is considered by many gamers and critics as one of the worst games of 2023. From the clunky controls and a myriad of technical issues,Gollumremains a sore spotinThe Lord of the Ringsgame roster.
Granted,Return to Moriawasn’t nearly as notorious or disappointing as itsGollumcounterpart, but it wasn’t the most stellar of releases, either. This survival title launched to mixed reviews, finding some success but once again marking yet another game adaptation that struggled to capture the spark ofThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise. These two titles have showcased that creating a strongLord of the Ringsexperience may be far easier said than done. Sadly, the bad news hasn’t stopped there.
The Sudden Shut-Down of Monolith Lowers the Curtain On the Shadow of Mordor Franchise
The closure of Monolithis an unfortunate end of an era. One of the most upsetting details of such a shut-down is that it likely means theShadow of Mordorseries won’t continue. Its sequel,Shadow of War, may not have reached the same heights as its predecessor, but many fans were hoping to see anotherLord of the Ringsgame featuring the beloved Nemesis System sometime in the future. Now it seems as though that may never happen. Monolith had been part of the industry for 30 years, and its closure is made even sadder by the loss of anotherShadow of Mordorchapter.
Tales of the Shirewas originally slated for 2024, then moved to July 08, 2025. It has now been delayed once more, and is now set for a July 29 release.
Tales of the Shire Can Still Deliver a Surprise
It’s important to remember that just becauseThe Lord of the Ringshas faced a rocky few yearsin the gaming industry doesn’t mean it will stay that way forever. Yes, it’s risky thatTales of the Shireis bringing forth a game that seemingly sidesteps the fight against good and evil that the series hinges on, but it could also be a compelling change of pace.
It remains to be seen whatTales of the Shirehas in store for players. Of course, there are the cozy life sim staples to be expected, like cooking, fishing, and socializing, but how it succeeds in adaptingThe Lord of the Ringslorehas yet to be known. Once the game finally arrives this summer, it will hopefully be able to rise above the franchise’s dark streak.
